The Rams head into a Week 7 matchup against the Raiders with a 1-4 record in last place in the NFC West. You can't blame them, as their top two wide receivers have been out with an injury for most of the season.
Luckily for Los Angeles, help is on the way. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been sidelined since Week 2 due to an ankle injury, but he wasn't added to injured reserve in the hopes that he would be able to return before the four games he would be required to miss on IR.
The Rams were on bye in Week 6, which is usually when teams try to get extra rest. It may have been just what Kupp needed, because, coming out of the bye, he was able to return to practice. Here are the latest updates on whether or not Kupp will be able to suit up against Las Vegas in Week 7.
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Is Cooper Kupp playing this week? Injury update on Rams WR
Not only did Kupp return to practice this week, but he logged three consecutive limited practices. He was labeled as "questionable" heading into the weekend, so we likely won't know whether he will play until about 2:35 p.m. ET Sunday, when inactives are due.
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Kupp injured his ankle in Week 2 against Arizona. If Los Angeles had added him to IR, he would have been forced to miss games in Week 3, 4 and 5. The bye in Week 6 wouldn't count toward the four-week requirement, and Kupp would have had to miss this game against Las Vegas.
Since Los Angeles didn't add him to IR, he can take the field whenever he is ready. Kupp likely will test his ankle injury during pre-game warmups with a good chance to play.
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Cooper Kupp fantasy football outlook
Sometimes the bet ability is availability, or so the saying goes. That rings true for Kupp. He's a very talented receiver who has a great rapport with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Kupp also is clearly the best Rams pass-catcher available since Puka Nacua is on IR. The team's leading receiver heading into Week 7 is...Tutu Atwell.
If Kupp is active, you'll be worried about a snap count for him, but you may just have to risk it for the biscuit. If he is active, Kupp should see a high target share and be started. The upside is too significant to let sit on your bench even if there is a risk he doesn't see a full workload.
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Rams wide receiver depth chart
| Position | Player Name |
| 1 | Cooper Kupp (Questionable) |
| 2 | Puka Nacua (IR) |
| 3 | Jordan Whittington (Questionable) |
| 4 | Tutu Atwell |
| 5 | Demarcus Robinson |
| 6 | Tyler Johnson |
| 7 | Xavier Smith |
Atwell leads the team with 281 receiving yards. No pass-catcher, wide receiver or otherwise, has brought in multiple receiving touchdowns this season. Like Kupp, Whittington logged a limited practice every day this week and was labeled questionable for the game due to a shoulder injury.
Robinson is the most experienced wide receiver, outside of Kupp. He and Atwell need to help draw the defense away from Kupp to let the veteran be the game-changer he can be.
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